Friday, January 14, 2011

Land By Rank - Virginia Land Laws 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 officially approved a proclamation made by the governor of Virginia 19 February 1754. This act granted land for military services. The number of acres received was based upon the rank of the individual. The following table gives the allotments by rank:

Major-General..................15,000 to 17,500 acres.Brigadier-General..............10,000 acres and upwards.Colonels.......................5,000 to 8,888 acres.Lieutenant-Colonels............4,500 to 6,666 acres.Majors.........................4,000 to 5,333 acres.Captains.......................3,000 to 4,666 acres.Surgeons and Surgeons' Mates...2,666 to 8,000 acres.Lieutenants, Ensigns, Cornets..2,000 to 2,666 acres.Every non-commissioned officer...400 acres.[Had to serve throughout war.]Every soldier and sailor.........200 acres.[Had to serve throughout war.]Every non-commissioned officer...200 acres.[Enlisted for three years.]Every soldier and sailor.........100 acres.

Where any officer, soldier or sailor was killed or died in service, his heirs or legal representatives became entitled to receive the same quantity of land as would have been due such officer, soldier or sailor.

Many of these "Military Warrants" were allocated land in what was to become Kentucky. These grants are recorded in "Kentucky Land Warrants, for the French, Indian & Revolutionary Wars", compiled by Samuel M. Wilson. This book is published by Southern Historical Press, Inc. [1st edition 1913.] This reference is very helpful in following any folks coming from Virginia to Kentucky before Kentucky was a state...before 1792. The above table is taken from this source.